Hardcore music collectors have a thing called vinyl records. And as the collectors started going hog wild over the classic records artist started releasing new releases on vinyl. In the world of movies we have a thing called VHS. Yes, video tapes aka VHS. The same thing we use to rush out to the video stores and rent and the same thing that we phased out around 2003 or so for standard DVDs has made a grand comeback of epic proportions in the world of movie collecting. And I’m not just talking about people floating around eBay searching for old Wizard Video releases that haven’t been cut up for the rental boxes to fit in. I’m talking about companies today putting out collector version in limited fashion of both old and new titles. Some are limited to 300, some 250, some even less. Some are in big boxes, some in normal boxes, and some in clamshells. But the collectors of the world are out in the masses trying to snatch these releases up. Let us take a look at some of the different ones that are out there today.
One of my personal favorite forms of the VHS resurgence is in the releases that pack both the VHS AND the DVD. Don’t get me wrong, I love these VHS tapes. But I also would like to watch the movie and not actually watch the VHS. The DVD combos allow us a normal way of viewing without risking the ultimate whammy of the VCR “eating” the tape. There have been a couple awesome combos out there that have been given to us in limited form. The Sleeper and The Turnpike Killer are both cool releases that give us the VHS tapes and the DVDs in a big box form.
Recently SRS Cinema has given us a few old school titles that come with the DVD in very creative and awesome cases. From Tim Ritter to other cult director and films, a line of these are set to be released soon. But be warned, they are rather cheap in price and very limited. So you may want to act fast.
Day of the Reaper, which is probably sold out but more titles are on the way
Massacre Video has been known to give very limited releases, even with German Hardboxes coming into the mix as of late. But their VHS tapes seem to be among the most wanted among collectors so far. And for those who have been a fan of Toe Tag Pictures, they have VHS releases for all their infamous titles coming very soon, from the August Underground trilogy to The RedSin Tower. These are in clamshell cases that look pretty cool on a shelf.
Wild Eye Releasing has jumped into the mix putting a few of their titles out in clamshell VHS form. These are limited to 250 of each and come with some cool art on the covers for titles such as, Blitzkrieg, The Bloody Ape, and Goth Kill. If you are on the fence with this new VHS craze, let me just say from experience that holding releases like this in your hand can make you come down quick with the VHS collector bug
My two copies of Wild Eye’s VHS series
Even Troma has gotten in on things with their limited to 300 release of this BIG box VHS of The Toxic Avenger
Drafthouse also had the right idea by placing cult favorite The Miami Connection on limited VHS
So with these places all striking oil with VHS releases we’ve seen more main stream films (or at least more main stream based off who released them) jumping into the ring with VHS releases. V/H/S from last year is getting a legit VHS release from Magnet soon. And Mondo Video a company already known for rare and limited cult memorabilia released a VHS for Beyond the Black Rainbow that everyone seems to want to get their hands on.
V/H/S’ actual VHS release
Mondo’s Beyond the Black Rainbow VHS
What we’ve looked out today just scratches the surface of all the VHS releases you can see out there. Many more new VHS releases are out there or coming soon. And the latest boom in VHS collecting doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. I myself think it’s great. In a world where people seem to want to switch over to all digital media and streaming, I like seeing not just physical media but old school physical media still standing proud in the thick of things. Trying to collect all of these might hurt the wallet, but it still adds up to a deserving price to pay for owning awesome items.
